Meet Jillian Whitaker | Composer for Film, Television, and Media

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jillian Whitaker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jillian, why did you pursue a creative career?
When I was growing up the arts were seen as extremely important hobbies for growth and development in my family, but they were never viewed as a viable career choice. Artistic pursuits were difficult, unstable, and not a feasible way to support yourself or make a real living. But I’ve always been the type to relentlessly pursue my passions and become completely tunnel-visioned when I’m interested in something, so when the obsession with film music and film scoring took over in my early teens it became my plan A career choice without any thought given to a plan B. I would move to LA and become a film composer because that’s what I was meant to do. It was never (and still isn’t!) an easy career path, but it is certainly the most rewarding path!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I don’t think the pursuit of a career in the film industry is easy for anyone, but as an eternal optimist driven by a deep love and passion for film music, the positives of working as a composer in the film industry far outweigh the negatives for me. I’ve been in LA for just over 8 years now and every one of those years has been an amazing mix of struggle and opportunities, setbacks and exciting new adventures. Yes, I had moments in my early years here where I survived on mostly white rice and ramen and struggled to pay rent, but living in a city filled with people like me who came here to create something special and who wanted to share their stories and their art with the world always kept me going, even during the more difficult moments in my career.

I had always heard stories of successful creatives having their “rock bottom” moment just before their career took off, but the reality is that as artists we often have a string of those moments over many years that end up testing and defining just how badly we want to reach the goals we’re pursuing. Am I scoring Steven Spielberg’s next major studio release? Well, no. Not yet at least. But am I making a full-time living in LA by writing music for films, TV, trailers, and video games? Yes! And the ability to do what lights my soul on fire and work on amazing projects with amazing people is something that I am very, very grateful for. Speaking of which – I’m super excited to have recently released my soundtrack album for the upcoming comedy series Friendly Faces! A really special project made by wonderful people that I’m very proud to have been a part of. Check it out if you have the chance!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are soooo many great spots in this city which is why I love living here so much! A day at Universal Studios is a must since it’s just a short drive from where I live. A trip to Los Pedros or Marina Del Ray for a whale watching tour is a favorite of mine when friends come to visit, as well as hiking around Griffith Park and up to the Observatory. Catching a concert at the Hollywood Bowl is also a paramount LA experience and one of my favorite things to do here.

As a vegetarian and coffee connoisseur (read: caffeine addict with good taste), there are a million great spots to get a bite to eat or a cup of coffee. My classic go-to is Aroma Café in Studio City for the best outdoor seating, good food, and delicious golden milk lattes. Tortoni café in Sherman Oaks is a wonderful Argentinian coffee shop with great coffee, yummy empanadas, and the kindest owners, and the absolute best pasta in all of LA is at Uovo in Studio City!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
All of the music teachers I’ve had throughout my life have shaped and guided me into the human and musician that I am today and I would absolutely not be here without them. I’d also like to shoutout my boyfriend and creative partner Assaf for his unwavering support, guidance, and shared passion for the work that we do.

Website: www.jillianwhitaker.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jillianwhitakermusic

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-whitaker-23547494

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jillianwhitakermusic